Recently in Face Category

Asian women are obsessed with SK-II-- the brand introduces the new SKIN SIGNATURE SERIES for Fall 2009, founded following a dermatological study revealing that each individual's skin has a tipping point, where elasticity and resilience begin to decrease more rapidly (I think that point is between 40-50 for most women).  To help stave off the onset of tipping point effects, SK-II researched a bounty of ingredients, and introduces Oli-Vityl, derived from Tuscan olives to increase anti-oxidant activity and further promote elasticity and resilience.

The new line sounds promising, we will have to hit the counters to test it out next month!  

I have a feeling that with the economy the way it is, this holiday season is going to be amazing for gift sets. I've already begun seeing the great deals at Sephora and among them is the Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Happiness Collection ($54). It's a limited edition exclusive to Sephora and while I know that it's gimmicky I love that it's infused with "mood-boosting Happybelle, a complex containing a natural plant extract believed to mimic the effect of endorphins and induce a sense of happiness" (such a fun little touch if you're looking to give this as a gift...no?). The nine-piece kit has 100% pure bareMinerals eye and cheek colors that are free of preservative, talc, waxes, binders, and fragrances. Jump for more!

I feel like I have strange skin. It's dry on the surface, but oil underneath. So right after I wash my face, it feels so tight it almost hurts, and then later on in the day it is a shine fest. I've tried using heavy creams and it just makes me shine so much sooner, and gel lotions that feel just as dry as when I had nothing. I was looking for a new day moisturizer and my SA told me I should try the new Fresh Soy Face Cream. It's like the perfect moisturizer for my combination skin! It makes me feel fully moisturized without having a greasy feeling, and I have less shine at the end of the day. And of course it has that wonderful, subtle almost rosy smell to it that most Fresh products. This is a great moisturizer for any type of skin this coming winter and is pretty reasonably price for $38 if I may say so myself.  Do you have weird combo skin, too?  Tell me what you use!

I was so excited when I was invited to the Avon R&D headquarters in Suffern, NY last week. I worked at Avon in their marketing department one summer while I was still in college and I've grown to really respect what they do and the products they offer. It was such an amazing opportunity to get to check-out the behind the scenes workings and to speak with the scientists that spend YEARS developing the creams that so many women swear by.

I know that there are some beauty-product addicts that tend to look down on non-prestige brands, but it's really the brands like Avon that can afford to spend millions on researching the latest and greatest technologies (on average 5 years of research go into a new Avon beauty technology), and on focus groups, and other forms of consumer testing (we were told that researchers sometimes go into the homes of women around the world to study women's beauty regimens). The headquarters are spic and span and fabulously sprawling. I wish I could have taken pictures to show you all, but unfortunately photographs weren't allowed. I can however give you the scoop on their latest product breakthrough Anew Reversalist. Learn more after the jump!

If you have never tried NARS Orgasm blush, this is a great time to do so. This kit comes with the Orgasm blush, Laguna bronzer, and an Orgasm nail polish. This kit is great because everything complements each other. The bronzer helps contour with a sun-kissed look and the blush gives you this illuminating morning after glow. And the nail polish is so pretty too. It looks just like the blush, a peachy pink with glimpses of shimmer. This kit is so versatile, it is flattering on almost all skin tones. This kit is now on sale at Sephora for $35. That's like pay $2 less for the blush/bronzer and getting the polish for free!

Here we go again creeping into the cool weather when skin gets flaky, dry, and as a result more sensitive. I don't exfoliate my skin year-round because I get the feeling that when I do, my skin gets more prone to sun damage, so I only do it regularly fall through early spring when my skin begins to really dry-up. Natural beauty company Terralina has come-out with Terralina Gentle Facial Exfoliator ($24 for 2.75oz), which targets just the kind of skin I'm talking about. The beads in the cleanser aren't overly harsh and the scent isn't obtrusive. The formulation is 98.65% natural and works for even those who, like me, have very sensitive skin given that it does not contain parabens, PEGs, ethoxylates, glycol, acrylates, silicones, harsh alcohols, mineral oils, or artificial fragrance. While even in the dead of winter I never exfoliate more than 3-4 times a week, supposedly this formulation is gentle enough to use everyday. To boot the exfoliator is packaged in a tube made of 40% post consumer recycled material!

All that ghostly make up from Marc Jacobs reminded me of a new product I got from Philosophy last month-- the Supernatural illuminating mineral powder. I thought it was a body product and have been using it on my chest and arms and love the way my skin looks-- it's a touch of shimmer without any glitter. When I realized it's made for the face, I applied some above the apple of my cheeks and it gave me a soft and radiant glow. I love the application, there is a sponge attached to the top of the tube, so all you have to do is dab at your skin to apply-- no mess! This is a fab alternative to a straight out white kabuki rice powder. I'm returning to Asia next month, better hope my fake tan rubs off by then or I'll never hear the end of it from my aunts and grandmother.

Moonlight from Philosophy is $28 here.

When did Bare Escentuals get so huge!? Suddenly I feel like I see their stores, ads, and counters all over the place! For good reason too. They've just come out with a new line of  matte foundations ($28), that are great for travel because they click and lock shut and they help absorb oil and minimize pore size (the foundations are infused with the RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex). They're also better for people who may have been sensitive to the original formula, because it doesn't have bismuth oxychloride which makes some people break-out. I've been using their Medium Beige and its helped get me through the last few weeks of chaotic running around. I've been combining it  with Estee Lauder's Soft Shimmer Bronzer ($30) and Temptu's highlighter ($35) so I can control my oil and shine while still having a light shimmer.

How do you feel about matte foundation?  

If you regularly shop for cosmetics in France you've likely heard of Melvita -- they're hugely popular over there and now that the 25 year old company (a pioneer in natural and organic cosmetics -- a lot of their products are so natural you can eat them -- seriously!), has been acquired by L'Occitane they are hitting the US with a bang! They just launched their website and in November you'll be able to buy their full line of products online (stores will begin rolling out at the end of the year). Stay tuned also for a Melvita giveaway on Beauty Snob in the next few weeks! The company was founded by Bernard Chevilliat, a biologist and beekeeper, who wanted to create a company that celebrated bees and helped disseminate a message of ecological and humanistic concerns.  All of the products hail from Ardèche in France and meet the criteria of the Ecocert Ecological and Organic Cosmetics frame of reference. More on the line after the jump!

One of my best friend's mother was unfortunately diagnosed with colon cancer a few years ago. It has been an uphill battle of ups and downs ever since. When it happened we were all completely floored that this woman who was only in her early forties and a poster for good health and beauty could be faced with such an awful diagnosis. She's a constant reminder for me that no matter what happens we all must be grateful for our health (I don't know where  this came from, but I once read that "health is a gift only the sick can see" and it's a truth I tell myself often when I'm panicking about one frivolous thing or another). When my friend's mother was faced with the arduous task of undergoing chemotherapy and seeing her hair fall out there was one product, ModelCo's More Brows, that become an essential part of her beauty arsenal. More after the jump!